Letters: Taxpayers aren't the ultimate bosses

Jan. 23, 2013

As I read The Post-Crescent editorial “Public salary issue about good policy,” I found myself questioning your editors. You claim that, as taxpayers, we’re the ultimate boss, since we pay public-sector workers’ wages. We’re entitled to this information to “help guide good policy decisions about government payrolls to which we all contribute tax dollars.”

Try not to break an arm patting yourselves on the back for doing the hard legwork.

As a subscriber of 15 years, I’m your ultimate boss. Please publish the names, salaries, years of experience and benefits of Post-Crescent employees. Then publish the breakdown of your operating costs so we can determine if you’re making good decisions. Surely it shouldn’t cost me $15 a month for weekend-only papers for news that I read two days ago online for free.

Your narrow-minded view in publishing the names and salaries of public employees ignores the bigger picture. As consumers, we pay for goods and services every day. The price we pay covers the cost of operations and salaries. Does this make us their ultimate boss? Goodness, no!

As taxpayers, we’re paying for goods and services done by garbage collectors, plow operators, administrative assistants and clerks who keep the business of government operating smoothly, and the education of our citizens. Can that not be related to paying a company to put a new roof on the house or paying the mechanic to fix your car?

Since I have never been a public servant, I don’t know what each job involves. Therefore, I can’t pass judgment on salaries. My job as a taxpayer is to be informed to elect competent leaders. I wish I could do the same for the people who lead the automotive industry, oil industry, retail industry and the National Football League.